Brockton police chief tracks down wallet thief

Interim Police Chief Robert Hayden recovers a woman's stolen wallet after finding the suspects with the aid of the woman on Friday.

Staff Reporter

BROCKTON – When Interim Police Chief Robert Hayden stopped the suspects, he said, "make sure you don't run because I'm a 71-year-old man with cancer."

Hayden's age was at the center of a legal case last week when the Brockton Police Supervisors Union requested an injunction to block his appointment. The request stemmed for a state law mandating that police officers retire at age 65.

Hayden's age, however, wasn't a factor when he was recovering a woman's stolen wallet on Friday.

The incident began when three women flagged Hayden down as he was driving and claimed that a man and woman had taken one of their wallets

After the women told Hayden which direction the suspects had gone, the chief invited them into his car before finding the two suspects walking on Crescent Street.

Shortly after stopping the suspects, Hayden said one of them admitted to having the wallet, which was returned to the victim.

No arrest was made because the victim declined to press charges.

"It was fun being a cop again," Hayden said of the incident.

In addition to Friday's events, Hayden said he had a busy first week at the police department while trying to get to know the city as well as his new officers.

"I respected what they did before, but I didn't put the faces with the uniforms," Hayden said. "They're terribly hard-working. It's an honor to be around them."

Among the changes that Hayden has already begun at the department is a squad comprised of a wagon and two cruisers that patrol the streets three times a day.

"It's a proactive group of police officers who are looking to make quality-of-life arrests," Hayden said.

The new chief added that he is planning to purchase four or five motorcycles to replace the cruisers, and has already had officers volunteer to ride during the patrols.

On Monday, Hayden said he will be meeting with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, Plymouth County Sheriff's Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"We already have the plan that we want to accomplish, and now we're going to figure out how they fit in and how they can help us," Hayden said.